Federal trial postponed for local defendants in Kansas drug case

The trial date for the five remaining Mendocino County defendants in the federal drug trafficking case in Kansas has been moved from June 2013 to April 2014. Guilty pleas have already been entered by 29 defendants, leaving this new trial date pending for only 13 defendants.

Seven Mendocino County residents were originally charged in this Kansas, California and Missouri drug trafficking conspiracy. Two local defendants, James and Elizabeth Soderling of Fort Bragg, pleaded guilty in February.

Of the 13 defendants left facing trial, three already have change-of-plea hearings scheduled and three more are negotiating with the government. This includes two of the Mendocino County defendants, Erin Keller and Jeffrey Wall, who "are actively engaged in plea negotiations with the government," according to court documents.

All Mendocino County defendants are out on bail awaiting either sentencing or trial except Henry McCusker, who remains in federal custody awaiting trial.

The Soderlings pleaded guilty of conspiracy to traffic cocaine and marijuana and face a sentence of 10 years-to-life. This guilty plea was in exchange for cooperation and possible testimony by them. In exchange for their complete cooperation the federal prosecutor has agreed to drop the remaining charges and make a sentencing recommendation to the judge based on the perceived value of their testimony. Typically they will not be sentenced until after any trials are concluded.